I'm a caregiver and a guy I took care of recently passed, he was an avid cruise-goer. He got me into watching all of these cruise info videos even though I've never been on a cruise myself. Watching this made me smile.

No tampons or pads on an entire ship? Tell me your purchasing department is all male, without telling me your purchasing department is all male 🤣

For anyone interested, if you are flexible and can sail within a 90 day period, Vacations to Go is where I shop cruises. There are many itineraries and cruise lines available. Just an FYI

As someone who lives in Orlando (and has worked at Disney), if you are planning to be in the Disney area for a few hours (say, after a cruise) but you don’t want to ride any rides, go to Disney Springs!! There’s so much to do there and both parking and admission is completely free. You can also board the buses from there to basically get to any other place on property, so us locals like to use dsprings to resort hop. My favorite resorts to visit for a brief day trip are Coronado Springs (massive, beautiful, and not at all crowded resort with so much good food) and Polynesian/Grand Floridian (iconic and right next to each other on the MK monorail loop)

FYI medical has tampons and pads. Some strange rule they have to be handled by medical. If you pick up the phone there and they come fast. I had an emergency on a cruise long story but they came fast and took great care of me

Am I literally ever gonna go on a cruise? No. Am I watching the full thing cause it's Jen? Yes lol

I would like to point out that the Royal Refreshment package can be an excellent value. I don’t even really drink mocktails and I still get the RR package. I am Diamond+ (so I get 5 free drink vouchers up to $14 each, daily). I’m also a Prime member in the casino so I get free drinks there. I still get the RR package. Like you said, it’s about the math. On a ship like Symphony, it’s a great value. A shake at Johnny Rockets is about $6. A fresh smoothie from the Vitailty Spa Cafe is $8.25. Specialty coffee drinks are around $6. But I use it most for bottled water which is $3.25 each. I stockpile bottled water because we are big water drinkers and like to be able to take off the ship at ports as well. Also the packages work on the RC private islands which is nice.

Something I learned early on as a Baltimore native, if it says "Maryland-Style Crab Cake" on the menu, it's NOT a Maryland-style crab cake!

I cruise 2 to 3 times a month on royal caribbean. I cruise FREE everytime well i pay the port taxes, Theres so many tips and tricks to cruising😊 Biggest tip is if you gamble make sure you use your card in the machines and 1200 points gets you a free cruise BUT you have to pay the deposit before getting off the ship

My bf and I didn’t get the drink package since we knew we wouldn’t drink enough, but every time we tried to buy a cocktail or specialty coffee a la carte the bartenders looked shocked and were like are you sure?! You don’t have a drink package though?! 😮 It was so funny! Like just because we want a drink every once in a while doesn’t mean we want to drink 5-8 drinks a day, which was the amount we would’ve needed to for the price to be worth it

My parents are 30+yr cruisers on Royal Caribbean. They have stuck by the company even though trying other brands from time to time. I don't think you are going to go wrong cruising with them as long as you are aware (like you did your research) what things really cost and what to shy away from. Nice to hear your take on your holiday!

If anyone does their research on something they plan to buy, it's Jen Luv lol

When my mom and I did a cruise one tip I had learned was, pack a swimsuit in a backpack as a carry-on and in the time before you are allowed in your room, go to a pool. Most people don’t have their swimsuits handy so the pools are mostly empty. The most empty they’ll ever be during your stay. Our drink package was significantly cheaper though and I paid for it for us so we could have lattes and better wine selections at dinners. Worth it for us. Our tea party was free you just needed to make reservations. We did a Viking cruise. Expensive but so many cool things I like better than larger cruises. Fun video!

Disney cruise line has tampons and pads in all public restrooms for free. As someone that is going through perimenopause, this was such a plus.

My Mom loved to cruise. She was a pro! I agree that everyone needs the 411. When she started she had friends that had been doing it for years. She was very particular about her cabin placement. I am glad you had fun. Thanks for all the information. Mad love ❌️ ⭕️

Totally agree you have to do the math on drink packages. Also, you are allowed to bring 1 bottle of wine per person. So if you like a certain kind or just want a little something one night that’s also an option. (When I went on Symphony in 2022 it was 2 bottles each, so we brought 4).

Love this new channel! You are a wonderful story teller and very thorough and truthful with your reviews (cosmetics, dining, holidays and now cruises 🚢) without coming across as unnecessarily rude or unkind. More of all the things please 🙏 ❤

I can’t wait to see what you do with this channel (if anything else)! I followed your other channel because you are so informative and this video was so helpful because I’m considering going on a cruise at some point in the near future.

Thank you for the info Jen! So much more thorough than I expected

Heeeeey travel agent here! 🙋‍♀️ Most cruise sailing groups are run by travel agents and they are WEIRD about their no promotion rules. My guess is that the rule applied to your post because it was a video and the algorithm could do its thing and lead people down a rabbit hole of RCCL content by other travel agents. 🙃 You should try Virgin Voyages next!

Jen, I am sailing on Symphony this summer and just like you I watched everything…thank you so much for this! You helped me to learn a few new things I was curious about but no one else has mentioned! ❤

19:00 omg, balloon drop? A literal nightmare for me. No thanks! I'm with you. Balloons are the worst. Lol

I love the idea of you having a non-beauty second channel! I'm sure you have great ideas for it, but I'm here for whatever you post 😊 I have never been on a cruise, and am honestly a little a little afraid of them! I think it's the anxiety of being stuck somewhere with so many people 😂 But they're fun to hear about. I have coworkers who are cruise junkies, so I know they can be really cool ways to vacation!

This is very accurate! Great review and good tips. I was on the liberty of the sea a week before you and had a very similar experience.

The Facebook groups can get ridiculous. Tons of good info but also TONS of people giving wrong answers that have no clue what they’re talking about. And some of them take their jobs way too seriously. Getting kicked out and blocked is a little overboard, no pun intended

I’m glad you & your Mama had a good time!

The name of this channel made me laugh! I’m so glad YT served your vid to me because I didn’t know you had a second channel!

Love the fact that your video was from true experience and not sugar coated 😊 Thank you so much 👍

Another helpful tip is select your room and try to stay in the middle of the ship it will save you some walking anyways

Yay! More Jen content! Subscribed!

How the hell can they not have feminine products?????

Every Marylander knows to never order a crab cake outside of Maryland!

What! So happy to stumble across this channel! 🎉

Thank you for the video! The name of the channel is adorable! ❤ I know several people who cruise and one family who cruise at least once a year. They go to Alaska every year too. I was always curious about cruises but they didn’t sound like a fit for me. I know now I’m not a fit for cruises and I would have always wondered if not for your video. People love them. I’m just weird lol. I’m so happy y’all had a wonderful time! Well earned vacation for you and your mom ❤

I really enjoyed this frank and detailed oriented video!! Good tips! Thank you.

I’m not going on a cruise, but I am going on a two week trip in several months. You’ve given me valuable food for thought! Thanks!!! ❤

Very informative. Just came back from an Alaskan cruise and I wish I knew there was a FB group. Because of your video, I just joined a FB group for my transatlantic crossing in October. Regarding disembarking... we used the luggage valet service (where they bring your luggage directly to the airport and check it for you). Brilliant. Would use it again in a heartbeat. Cheers!

Thank you, I just came across your video (KZfaq algorithms) and found it really interesting. I haven’t been on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship since 2011 so I know that a lot has changed. In the back of my mind I’m thinking to do something with them and your “be aware” notes are actually very informative. Thank you.

Enjoyed this video so much… informative and fun 🤩 I felt like I was listening to a great friend tell me about her vacation! 🥰 Thank you for sharing!

Just got back from Symphony today. I’m a HUGE KZfaq planner and apparently can’t stop watching videos even after the trip. Anyway great stuff. We had very similar experience the week after you. Great ship, great cruise and great info positive or “negative” for anyone planning.

I am a 57 yr old Diamond Plus cruiser who is fairly faithful to Royal. I’ve been cruising since ‘89 and was a travel agent briefly from 1988-1990 with a passion and focus on cruising. Thumbs up on your video and detailed information.

Thank you!! This video is super helpful!

This was great! Specific and detailed advice!

Here from your other channel, I love cruising as well as makeup. This vid is filled with good info

I love your video. Great job 👏. Thank you

Terrific video!!!! Thank you so much 🚢🚢🚢

Love the name of this new channel 🤟

Omg you started a new channel? Im subbed to this now! Im so excited for these

Thank you for the review Jen!

Jen always entertaining and informative Thank you for the video

Very helpful information! I am planning my first cruise, so I don't know what I don't know (yet) and I appreciate all the topics covered candidly in the video.

I watch many cruise vids and you are great. I learned so much. You are also very entertaining.

Great small details definitely helpful 😊

So glad you had a wonderful cruise. Since I suffer from motion sickness, river cruises are the only ones I can stomach. My husband and I just finished a river cruise on the Danube and had an amazing time🚢

Thank you!! Very helpful video!

Have a RC cruise coming up so glad you made this video xx

Thank you so much for this video. I'm a cruiseship virgin and found this so, so very helpful. I'm planning to go in about 1.5-2 yrs (planning, etc 😊). I'll be adding these tips to my to-do/tips & tricks list.

Thanks for the video Jen. I too watched alllll the info videos before my cruise. One thing that no one told me was that for a week I would deal with disembarkation syndrome. I realized I had my sea legs once I got home from my flight and went to get in the shower and I couldn't stop the sensation of feeling like I was still on a boat. I dealt with it for about a week. Some people say it lasts a few days but it stayed with me for a week. It's something that no one mentions in their cruise videos. Great video. I can't wait to go on another cruise even if I get sea legs for a week.

Honestly I really enjoyed hearing about your trip in addition to your tips & tricks. I feel like it'll be cool to hear you talk about random stuff for sure.

I found it helpful. Thank you for sharing. 😊

I love learning about cruises even though I would go on one due to my crippling motion sickness.

Jen thank u so much for the information it was very helpful!

Im cruising for the first time in my adult life (37f last cruise and only other was on carnival in 2003) on msc later this year and have gone down the rabbit hole of youtube cruise advice videos. Thank you so much for your thoughtful information as someone who doesn't cruise often.

In 2012, on a Holland cruise, the same thing happened to my sister. She was in perimenopause, hadn't had a period for most of the year just like you… and suddenly it started on the ship. THANKFULLY I brought a ton of tampons just in case my period started a day or two early. She was able to buy a box at one of the ports. But same thing, no tampons or pads on the ship. Absolutely ridiculous. Sad to hear this hasn't been resolved.

Loving the royal content, Jen! I feel like my worlds are colliding!

Refreshment package is huge. Cause it includes Starbucks level coffees, smoothies, fresh squeezed juice not concentrate, works on private islands, and even offers 50% alcohol during dining services. Yes also soda, water, etc

Thanks for your two cents!!! I want to plan a cruise for my family

Such great info!! Thanks!!

I never plan to go on a cruise, ever. 😂 Yet I watched this whole video because it’s Jen! Plus it was fun learning about something I’ve never done

Thank you for your video. I will be going on my 1st cruise in September. Although I won't be going on this class ship you info in general was great.

This was great! Love to hear more personal stuff!!!xoxoxo

Excellent video! I’m taking my first royal Caribbean cruise in September

Thanks for the info about Greycliff. I’m going to Nassau on my next cruise, and I’m might look into going there for the day. 😁

My experience was in 2023. I needed more sanitary pads and was sent to the liquor store. To our amazement, they sold them there!

Great tips. Thanks

The best thing I just learned from this video was "Don't go to the balloon drop if you don't like balloons popping all around you!" Thank you for that. I would not have even thought about it before this video! Your video was very detailed oriented and full of great info!

Such good information.

Glad you had a good time with your mom.

We were on the same cruise. Not a fan of Nassau but I do like the recent changes. Also, people were spending $66 PP to enter a hotel beach. My husband and I kept walking and enjoyed Junkanoo beach and walked over to twin brothers for conch salad. I would tell people just be vigilant of your surroundings. Bags on disembarkation was a nightmare. We were number 7 and I found my bags in 43. They stopped me from searching I had to sneak in to get my bags. Will keep my bags next time. We booked Izumi, the sushi was amazing!

WHAT Jen luv how's another channel that talks about cruises travel or whatever else in life 🤯 🖤 How did I not know after years of what's up the makeup and watching all your lives lol. XOXO

Great tips, Jen! I am an avid cruiser but haven't been on a RC cruise before (Princess, Holland America, and Celebrity are our go-tos). I'd add to this video that your experience is going to be different from cruise line to cruise line, particularly dining.

I was on a cruise in 2014 on The Explorer of The Seas. It was a 10 day cruise with a friend. We went full out and got a balcony room, that was something we both dreamed of. We went to 4 islands. We never bought any excursions from the ship. We winged it lol. We were able to go online before the cruise and see what each island had to offer. It was so much cheaper and we still did alot. You can find people waiting at the ship dock to give you a tour on most islands. We really did well touring each island, going to a museum in Samana, Dominican, Republic, I was able to score some pieces of Larimar stone jewelry there on the cheap. We also went to St.Thomas, St.Kitts, and St. Maarten. We went up the hill in St Thomas and saw the castle/ fort there, and on up for their world's famous Banana Daiquiris---not going to lie ( I got completely $hitfaced there and...I don't normally drink like that 🤣)---so much fun.... We actually went thru Uniglobe for the package trip, and they get the drink packages, dinner seating, etc...but once we were there, we found ways of doing things when we got on board on our own 😉

Ive never booked a time in the main dining room in Royal Caribbean. I eat when I want and I have never had a problem nor had a long wait.

Super helpful

Thank you for your video. It is refreshing to hear from someone who actually has complaints. I feel like the usual cruise vloggers do everything they can to make it all seem so great. I love cruising, but there definitely are drawbacks that you need to be aware of. One additional tip is that if you do get the drink package many cruise lines will not deliver a drink to your room you have to go to the bar, same with the bottles of water. I really enjoyed princess Cruise because we would order two glasses of wine and an appetizer to watch the sunset on our balcony. Carnival and won’t do that and I can’t get a straight answer as to whether Royal Carribean will. We are cruising Royal Caribbean in January. I’ve called the customer service number several times and you get a different answer, depending on who you speak to.

the medical centers have hours they are open, but in an emergency you just call and there is an on-call doctor.

Jen, I found this! I love cruise content. My roomie is a hardcore cruiser and travel agent, so of course we've booked two cruises with him. 😂

I love to eat in the dining room: Always have a seat, love being waited on and it has better food.

Our first cruise is coming up in a few weeks! We are sailing on Anthem and very looking forward to it!

I wish they would have had a digital option on the cruise I went on a few years ago, I booked all my excursions prior to the cruise cause I knew there was a couple things I for sure wanted to do! 🤗

I've never done a cruise, but my family and I recently went to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico and there were SO many things that I wish I had known before we went, not dissimilar to some of the things you talked about on your cruise!

As an avid cruiser this women is 100% spot on. Solarium Bistro is No longer a secret your 100% correct eveyone knows about it. Not worth going up there for food. Your also 100 % correct on the lump crab cakes. No crab no shrimp no lobster no nothing Its just a mush ball and yes No obay. Yes always pay for the room you want to be in. Yes you need to be at triva at least 45 min early or theres no seats and it sucks standing there for an hr writing down your answers. Great job on this video.

Well, well, well, look what the algorithm recommended for me! This was SO helpful!!

Thank you for your comment regarding no tampons on Symphony of the Seas! I was also going through perimenopause when I went on a cruise in Sept 2022 with my husband for our 25th anniversary and unexpectedly got my period on the 5th day of a 7 day cruise, we luckily found one box of tampons in the second gift shop we went to, they were some foreign brand that were terrible but better than nothing, I wish I had posted something then to save someone else the same aggravation! It really did ruin the last two days of our cruise. I told my husband never again Royal Caribbean, but we were planning a family vacation this year and when we looked at the video tour of Wonder of the Seas, they had a vending machine and tampons were among some to the items in there, so it must just be a Symphony of the Seas problem. I did however see something on Wonder of the Seas that I thought was odd, one day at the windjammer a woman in front of us was turned away for lunch because she was wearing this cute bralette top and a matching pair of pants, they said due to dress code, but then my husband and I didn't attend the formal night because My husband didn't want to wear a jacket and tie, he just had button downs and polo shirts for the main dining room regular nights, but my son went with his girlfriend and they said that there were men in shorts that were permitted to dine. That seems backwards to me, it seems like what is the point of having rules if you are only going to enforce them when it's convenient?

I need more cruise videos ❤

I didn’t realize you had a second channel! I love jenluvs!

I agree with so much things you said!

We have our first Royal Caribbean cruise coming up! Different oasis class ship! We are looking forward to it. I’ve only done one other cruise so I am a newbie. As far as the Facebook group, I would never have thought posting someone else’s video on sunscreen was promotion - and I am a frequent Facebook user.

Yes, we just got back from a RCI cruise to Alaska. Solarium bistro was VERY busy!

Thank you for great content. I am planning my first cruise on RC. Been a Carnival gal for a while now. Need a change.